By Claver Nyuki

Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Winston Chitando has revealed that the country is on course to achieve a US$12 billion mining industry by the year 2023.

Minister Chitando said this while addressing Rural District Councils Chairpersons at the Rural District Councils Chairpersons indaba at the Kingdom Hotel in Victoria Falls.

“The country is heading in the right direction with the mining industry on course to achieve a $12 billion mining industry by 2023.

“Zimbabwe will treble platinum production by 2023. Unki, Mimosa and Zimplats are on an expansion drive. Karo resources at full production will produce much more than the current platinum players,” he said.

The Minister went on to reveal that the lithium mining community has initiated a producers association to boost production with the intentions to make Zimbabwe the first country in Africa to produce lead batteries.

He said, “Players in lithium mining have formed a lithium producers association with Zimbabwe going to be the first country in Africa to produce lead batteries.”

On diamonds, he said that “the target is to have a $1 billion industry by 2023.”

The Zimbabwe mining industry is momentous to the development of Zimbabwe as it contributes significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The timely revelations by the Minister come amidst President Mnangagwa’s vision for a middle class economy by 2030.